& # 039; He is a great child and we have come close to it over the years & # 039; – Woods on McIlroy friendship

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods played together in last year's tournament in Riviera

The fourteen biggest winner Tiger Woods praised Genesis Open play partner Rory McIlroy when the American strived for a first win at the tournament.

Former Los Angeles Open, which has had several names, is the only one Woods has played 10 or more times without winning.

Woods finished with world number nine McIlroy and Justin Thomas on Thursday.

"He is a great child, with incredible parents, and we have succeeded over the years," Woods said.

"I have always enjoyed playing with Rory – I have always enjoyed seeing him play, how he has evolved, and the number of tournaments he has won, but he is still in the learn and develop.

"There are many victories for him, but I enjoyed seeing him grow up on the Tour and getting to know him a lot closer. "

McIlroy ar is in Riviera at the back of the top five finishes in his two tournaments in 2019, a year in which he fully concentrates on the PGA Tour while attempting a four-year winless streak in major championships

Can End Woods Genesis Open losing streak?

Woods hopes 13 turns out to be his lucky number when he tries to fill in one of the few holes in his incredible golfcv.

Woods made his PGA Tour debut as a 16-year-old schoolboy in the Los Angeles Open in 1992 – but like his idol Jack Nicklaus has never tasted a victory in the Riviera Country Club

The best results of the 43-year-old in 12 starts were back-to-back runners-up finishes in 1998 and 1999.

Woods missed last year's cut at Riviera after rounds of 72 and 76, but that was still Fri his comeback after spinal fusion operation, and the former number one of the world went on to win his 80th PGA Tour title in the Tour Championship later in the season.

It is the second year in a row that he is paired with McIlroy from Northern Ireland and fellow American Thomas for the first two rounds.